Why you shouldn’t underestimate the criticality of kidney stones; signs and prevention.
Kidney stone is a serious issue
Kidney stone is not an uncommon health issue. It occurs in approximately 10 percent of the population worldwide. When kidney stones are not properly treated, it can lead to infection and kidney damage as well. If a small stone happens even in a solitary kidney, it can be quite critical so it all depends on the situation; no stones can be considered irrelevant until it is evaluated properly.
Why do they happen?
According to experts, stones are more common in the age range of 20-60.
Kidney stones are often seen in people who are not in the habit of taking enough fluids and those who consume a lot of high animal proteins and a salty diet. The stones are seen as a part of syndrome X, and are caused by a sedentary lifestyle, pre-diabetes, hypertension, obesity, extreme or large waist size, increased uric acid level, high cholesterol. Diabetic patients are more prone to develop stones than others.
Stones form in the kidney when there is supersaturation of metabolites like calcium, oxalate, uric acid, etc. in the urine. Increased serum calcium and uric acid due to other causes also can lead to stones. Stones can also form due to congenital metabolic abnormalities or due to the co-existence of other diseases.
Signs of kidney stones
People often tend to ignore the signs of kidney stones, because of a lack of knowledge. Patients with kidney stones present with pain in the back radiating to the abdomen. The pain may be dull aching in the back as well when the stones are inside the kidney. Patients can have urinary complaints as well like pain while passing urine, blood in urine and increased frequency of urination. Fever with rigor can also be a symptom when there is an associated infection.
If ignored at this stage and proper treatment is not taken, the stones can obstruct the kidneys. This is very dangerous as it damages the kidneys permanently. When both kidneys get damaged, then dialysis would also be required. Long-standing stones can also lead to infection of the kidneys and this infection can spread throughout the body leading to sepsis and can endanger life seriously.
How can you stay safe?
There are some simple steps that can cut down your risk of kidney stones considerably.
- Drink enough water
- Avoid too much of high-oxalate foods like spinach, soy, almonds, potatoes etc
- Take calcium with each meal
- Cut down on your sodium intake
- Reduce meat intake
- Drink diluted lemon water
The hallmarks in treating kidney stones would be timely diagnosis and medical intervention at the earliest.
- 23-Dec-2021
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